Arturo Vidal said he can thank Juventus for improving him as a player and “I hope to win the Ballond’Or one day.”

The Chilean midfielder has been a sensation since arriving in July 2011 from Bayer Leverkusen for €12.5m, proving decisive in what is likely to be a run of three consecutive Scudetti.

“If you ask me whether I’d like to win the Ballond’Or one day, then how can I say no?” he told Four Four Two Italia.

“Since I arrived at Juventus I feel that I have changed and improved a great deal. I learned so much from everyone, above all teammates like Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon who have won everything in their careers. I am so lucky to play by their side.”

Buffon hasn’t quite won it all, as he has never lifted the Champions League and this competition also eluded Juve since 1996.

“The Champions League is a tough tournament in which many different factors can make the difference. Last season our journey was positive and we went out only to the team that eventually won the trophy.

“This year we have to criticise ourselves and realise where we went wrong. We gambled away qualification against teams that were well within our capabilities.

“Am I disappointed? Of course I am to go out in the group phase, but the best response to these events is later in your career.

“My first memories of football are on the field of Rodelindo Roman, my local team who I still support. Football is wonderful everywhere, even if in different ways,” continued Vidal.

“In Germany there are certain traditions, while Italy and Chile have others. There are many similarities between the last two countries, especially in terms of the passion of the fans.”